My top 10 albums of 2010

I was planning on doing this at the end of the year but I couldn't wait that long.
It was hard to pick this, and I'll of probs missed out on a few, the selection is from albums I've downloaded and listened to this year, if I haven't heard of it I'm not counting it, so it will be bias. So here is my completely amateurism attempt to try be professional and write a top 10 album review.

10. byob - Everything In Moderation

The debut album from the young English producer/MC byob (bring your own bottle, real name Ashley) is a fuse of electronic beats, drum and bass sounds and a hint of dubstep, with some nice samples of classic tracks from the past. Being relatively unknown at this early stage of his career, I find that his first album is laced with hits and bangers that would make anyone nod along to the sounds. byob definitely has a future ahead of him if he continues the way he is now. (I must admit I don't actually have the album but I have most of the singles)

Stand out singles - Save My Life, Prescription, Peaches & Best Shoes

9. Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip - The Logic Of Chance

A long awaited album for me at least, Sac and Pip came back after a great first album (fuck Pitchfork's opinion) to release The Logic Of Chance. Le Sac's amazing production skills mixed with Pip's vocal and lyrical genius makes this album a complete must have. It goes from poetry to rap to dubstep to electronic to trip hop. Every track is a story being told by Pip excellently. The duo honestly in my eyes should have a lot more acclaim as the music they make is real and better than 99% of the radio played muck. With vocals from Kid A on Cauliflower makes it a joy to listen to, with entertaining videos for the tracks too. I honestly hope this isn't the last thing we see from them, these men are legends.  

Stand out singles - The Beat, Sick Tonight, Cauliflower & Get Better

8. Kele - The Boxer

The ex Bloc Party frontman went solo with this debut album, and it is much different to his old Bloc Party days type of music, this album is much more electronic/synthpop with the smallest bit of indie (I'm guessing) thrown into one. His risky choice releasing a solo album paid off and has a string of hits on it. With some catchy beats, sickening drops, and nice breakbeat tunes all on the one album this is a must listen for anyone really.

Stand out singles - Tenderoni, Rise, On The Lam & Everything You Wanted

7. Gorillaz - Plastic Beach

The long awaited third album from British band Gorillaz released earlier in the year to critical acclaim, although one or two reviews were rated it poorly. Everyone's favorite animated band returned after much doubt to release Plastic Beach, an album with a range of music from operatic to 'post dubstep' (so to say) to mellow rap. With star studded features from musicians such as Snoop Dogg, De La Soul, Mos Def, Bobby Womack, Lou Reed and Little Dragon on the album there is something for everyone on it. 

Stand out singles - Stylo, Empire Ants, Sweepstakes & Superfast Jellyfish

6. Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot The Son Of Chico Dusty

Big Boi who is one half of the rap group Outkast, released his debut album in the middle of 2010, which to surprise gained a lot of general acclaim from critics and listeners alike.  This long  delayed album has feelings of Outkast all over it, and the ATL rap scene definitely influences some beats and lyrics, with features from fellow Atlanta rappers such as B.o.B, Sleepy Brown and Gucci Mane. The Dungeon Crew member drops some ridiculous lyrics and beats on most tracks. In my eyes this is the Atlanta based album of the year.

Stand out singles - Shutterbug, Daddy Fat Sax, General Patton & Shine Blockas

5. Magnetic Man - Magnetic Man

Magnetic Man is the self entitled debut album from English trio Benga, Skream and Artwork, who all alone reached relative success, but coming together to release an album a highly acclaimed album. The three artists are mainly linked with dubstep music, but in truth the album is anything but dubstep (okay maybe one or two parts might be but still) With vocals on two tracks from the talented singer Katy B, and other features from Ms. Dynamite and John Legend, this album is a must listen to for any who likes electronic beats and hypnotizing lyrics.

Stand out singles - I Need Air, Perfect Stranger, The Bug & Crossover

4. Kid Cudi - Man On The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager

The Cleveland native released his second album earlier this month after a big debut album, and this album may not be as good but still shows Cudi has a lot to offer. After trouble in his life since his first release with drugs, police and family, Cudi somehow had time to record tracks for this follow up album. Probably the most hipster ridden man in the world, Mr.Rager has much more rock influences on this album, and much more darkness. Yet still manages to make appealing songs which with more listens grows tremendously on the listener. Although some people say that lead single Erase Me feels out of place, overall the album fuses nicely as it goes on, telling Cudi's story about his life and troubles. What a guy.

Stand out singles - Erase Me, Marijuana, GHOST! & MANIAC

3. Example - Won't Go Quietly

Won't Go Quietly is the breakthrough album from Fulham rapper Example, which explores many genres such as dubstep, electro, pop and garage. After 4 years Example finally got noticed when lead single Kickstarts started getting radio play, yet there are so much more levels to this album than Kickstarts. With tracks that can only be explained as orgasmic plastered all over it is without a doubt the best album to be released in the UK in 2010. You will have this album on repeat for days once you get into it, your volume won't go loud enough to fully enjoy it. Example fuses so many genres together and spits them out onto this massive album, it will never get old. Honestly picking 4 stand out singles is hard, I could name 8 that would all stand out.

Stand out singles - From Space, Dirty Face, Sea The Sea & Hooligans

2. Eminem - Recovery

The 7th studio album from rap legend Eminem was released and became the first album in history to sell over 700,000 copies in the first week, cementing Eminem in history as one of the greatest musicians of all time. After a safe to say poor previous album (which Em even disses) people were questioning what had happened to him, but he answered everyone with this album, every track is a hit, with killer beats and hard hitting lyrics, catchy songs too. Maybe it is more commercial than previous albums but Em still has the flame that has made him what he is. In honestly the tracks with featuring artists are my least favorite tracks, Pink, Rihanna and Lil' Wayne ruin the songs they are on for me, Em solo is enough to keep people listening for weeks, with a re-release on the way with apparently 7 new tracks, Recovery will be forever remembered as a classic and some of Em's best work. 

Stand out singles - Cold Wind Blows, 25 To Life, Spacebound & Seduction

1. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

This album may be released in 2 days as of now, but being the mad bastard I am I downloaded a leak (I wrote about it before too but ignore that crap). I must say I'm not the biggest Kanye fan, even hating 808s, but wow this album eradicates everything he has done before, Kanye absolutely went all out on this one. People are already giving it "universal acclaim". It may be a late release in the year but honestly you need to listen fully to the album, if you don't love it first time then listen again and you will. Featuring a star studded line up such as Rick Ross, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Bon Iver, Pusha T, Kid Cudi, Raekwon, John Legend, Rihanna and Fergie among others, this album might even reach the unforeseen mark of 1 million copies in the first week, although the leak of the album on the internet might stop that (sorry Kanye) Stick this album on repeat, I recommend it, 100 minutes of pure pleasure. I can only fault one or two tracks being pointless (interludes) otherwise this is a near perfect album which I rate as my best album of 2010. 

Stand out singles - Hell Of A Life, Runaway, Power & All Of The Lights

Omg that was harder than I thought it would be aswell as taking longer, and trying to bullshit little blurbs (so to say) about the album without repeating myself and trying to sound professional and intellectual. You're better off just listening to the albums and judging for yourself.

As for albums coming soon that I'm looking forward to, some include Dr.Dre's long long long awaited Detox said to be Feb '11, Eminem also said to be adding 7 new songs to a special edition of Recovery, Deadmau5's next album (app it's an album, not sure though) 4x4=12 (which I have a leak of but it's not full/quality so I left it out), Lupe Fiasco's Lasers, The Game's long delayed R.E.D (which I feel may flop), and a possible new album from Example, among others. 

Ps. I hate the fucking fonts and spaces on this thing changing by themselves all the time. Also what's funny I don't actually own any of these albums on an actual CD lol.

The best of The Viper.

The man I aspire to be.

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

 I originally written something about Kanye's album but after listening to it more I changed my opinion and thought I'd write something better :) Mostly this is about how the reviewer is a bit gone in the head but still what an album.

"When Kanye West sings about "jerk-offs that’ll never take work off," you’d best believe he means himself. Being crazy is this guy’s job, and judging from the sound of his music, business is booming. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is his most maniacally inspired music yet, coasting on heroic levels of dementia, pimping on top of Mount Olympus. Yeezy goes for the grandeur of stadium rock, the all-devouring sonics of hip-hop, the erotic gloss of disco, and he goes for all of it, all the time. Nobody halfway sane could have made this album. "

I wouldn't say he is "crazy" to an extent, the person who wrote this review appears more crazy than Kanye. I wonder what drug the reviewer is on, talks more about Kanye being crazy than music.

"Last time, Kanye went minimal for the electro melancholia of 808s & Heartbreak. But onFantasy, he gets ridiculously maximal, blowing past all the rules of hip-hop and pop, even though, for the past half-decade, he’s been the one inventing the rules. There are hip-hop epics, R&B ballads, alien electronics, prog-rock samples, surprise guests from Bon Iver to Fergie to Chris Rock, even a freaking Elton John piano solo. It’s his best album, but it’s more than that — it’s also a rock-star manifesto for a downsizing world. At a time when we all get hectored about lowering our expectations, surrendering our attention spans, settling for less, West wants us to demand more."

Yeah 808s was shit, one or two good songs but it was so dull and boring. Once again the reviewer is a bit mad with saying "blowing past all the rules on hip-hop and pop", I don't think the reviewer listens to hip-hop much. I do admit I've thought thoughts about how great this album is but still I don't go as far as saying these big words and splurging shit.

"Nobody else is making music this daring and weird, from the spooky space funk of "Gorgeous" to the King Crimson-biting "Power" to the paranoid staccato strings of "Monster." Nearly six minutes into "Runaway," long after the song has already sealed itself in your brain, the sound cuts out and you think it’s over. Then there’s a plinking piano, the feedback of an electric guitar plugging in, some "Strawberry Fields"-style cellos and Yeezy himself singing a poignant Robert Fripp-style solo through his vocoder. There’s no way it should work, but it keeps rolling for three more minutes without breaking the spell."

Once again I wouldn't say the music is "daring or weird", Gorgeous isn't "funky", to be honest it might just be the worst song on the album (apart from maybe Who Will Survive In America or Dark Fantasy), having Cudi and Raekwon on the same track had so much potential but it wasn't to be. But Power and Monster were dope, the reviewer got that right. And Runaway has to be the best track for me, what an amazing song, it does entrance me.

Coming off a string of much-publicized emotional meltdowns, Yeezy is taking a deeper look inside the dark corners of his twisted psyche. He has sex and romance on his mind, but he comes clean about his male angst like never before. In confessions like "Runaway" and "Blame Game," he honestly struggles to figure out why he has to be such a douchebag. Yet the songs are also his funniest ever, with Kanye showing off lethal wit on the mic: In "Dark Fantasy," he rhymes "mercy, mercy me, that Murcielago" with "diablo," "bravado" and "My chick in that new Phoebe Philo/So much head, I woke up in Sleepy Hollow."

"deeper look inside the dark corners of his twisted psyche", yeah sure whatever you say, how did you get a job for Rolling Stone magazine seriously you're a wank reviewer. This is not his funniest album either, it's probs his least funny, and wow he rhymes words that sound alike, well done you handicap. 

"There’s a famous story about Queen making "Bohemian Rhapsody": Whenever the band thought the song was finished, Freddie Mercury would say, "I’ve added a few more ‘Galileos’ here, dear." But nobody can out-Galileo Kanye. With Fantasy, he makes everybody else on the radio sound laughably meek, but he’s also throwing down a challenge to the audience. Kanye West thinks you’re a moron if you settle for artists who don’t push as hard as he does. And that means pretty much everybody."

Bringing Freddie into this review and saying "nobody can out- Galileo Kanye" really questions   why are you writing this, Queen have nothing to do with this review and it is a poor metaphor. Yes Fantasy is an amazing album and probs the album of the year, but calm the socks man. Anyone who gets played on the radio is meek for sure because the radio is shit, but I doubt Kanye set out making an album to solely challenge "the audience", he just wants bitches and money. And finally "Kanye West things you're a moron..." please stop writing reviews you idiot.

So Rob Sheffield from Rolling Stone magazine if you ever read this which I know you wont you honestly suck at reviews and probs didn't even listen to the album. Personally it started off as a good album and with more listens turned into a great one, with guest features from some notable artists. Still would of liked a few others in there. Hell of a Life and Runaway are stand out songs, aswell as Power and Monster but I had them before I heard the album so I was used to listening to them so to say. I'm putting it as my best album of the year so far.

Jay Electronica signs to Roc Nation!

Rapper Jay Electronica signed to Roc Nation over the weekend.  The 34 year old New Orleans native penned the paper to Jay-Z's label which has caused controversy with friend and fellow rapper P.Diddy who was rumoured wanting to sign Jay Elec. Words were said on their personal Twitters which included Erykah Badu (female rapper who Elec has a baby with) tweeting Diddy saying "sorry". But they have spoken to each other and have made up with Diddy saying "all I want to do is see you win"

Now with all that fancy writing I've attempted real talk time. I've been bumping Jay for over a year now since hearing Exhibit A. He may be 34 year old which I would consider old for a new break through rapper, but damn he is dope and speaks the truth. Lyrically he can't be touched and with dope producers such as Just Blaze working along side him the next few years look bright for Jay.

Apart from that Jay-Z has struck gold with signing him to Roc. Elec will be joining a star studded roster including J.Cole (another lyrically dope, young and talented rapper), Rihanna, Wale (who I don't like), Willow Smith (hatehatehate) Alexis Jordan (hate ALOT) and a few other less significant people. Jay-Z will be raking in the money in the next few years.

But yeah this is app big news in America and I like rap so I thought I'd post it, I would say I liked Jay Elec before he got big, if I remember I had around 100 of his songs on my old iTunes before it died. And according to last.fm I first scrobbled him on the 14th of Nov 2009, which was yesterday :D

Exhibit A

Exhibit C

Robert Allenby pelts spectator at Australian Masters 2010